Medicare Program; Virtual Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee-July 22, 2020, 35933-35935 [2020-12720]

Agencies

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 114 (Friday, June 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35933-35935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12720]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3395-N]


Medicare Program; Virtual Meeting of the Medicare Evidence 
Development and Coverage Advisory Committee--July 22, 2020

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a virtual public meeting of the Medicare 
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) 
(``Committee'') will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. This meeting 
will focus on the home use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation 
in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF) consequent to 
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We are seeking the 
MEDCAC's recommendations regarding the characteristics that define 
those patient selection and usage criteria, concomitant services, and 
equipment parameters necessary to best achieve positive patient health 
outcomes in beneficiaries with CRF consequent to COPD. This meeting is 
open to the public in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).

DATES: 
    Meeting Date: The virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 
22, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

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    Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must 
be received at the email address specified in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on Monday, June 
22, 2020. Once submitted, all comments are final.
    Deadlines for Speaker Registration and Presentation Materials: The 
deadline to register to be a speaker and to submit PowerPoint 
presentation materials and writings that will be used in support of an 
oral presentation is 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Monday, June 22, 2020. Speakers 
may register by phone or via email by contacting the person listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. 
Presentation materials must be received at the email address specified 
in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    Submission of Presentations and Comments: Presentation materials 
and written comments that will be presented at the meeting must be 
submitted via email to [email protected] section of this 
notice by Monday June 22, 2020.
    Deadline for All Other Attendees Registration: Individuals who want 
to join the meeting may register online at https://letsmeet.webex.com/letsmeet/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6f9d4471a6f1f77e29f5c34c64ccdc4d by 11:59 
p.m. EDT, on Sunday, July 19, 2020.
    Webinar and Teleconference Meeting Information: Teleconference 
dial-in instructions, and related webinar details will be posted on the 
meeting agenda, which will be available on the CMS website https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. Participants in the MEDCAC meeting will 
require the following: a computer, laptop or smartphone where the WebEx 
application needs to be downloaded; a strong Wi-Fi or an internet 
connection and access to use Chrome or Firefox web browser and a webcam 
if the meeting participant is scheduled to speak or make a presentation 
during the meeting.
    Deadline for Submitting a Request for Special Accommodations: 
Individuals viewing or listening to the meeting who are hearing or 
visually impaired and have special requirements, or a condition that 
requires special assistance, should send an email to the MEDCAC 
Coordinator as specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this notice no later than 5:00 p.m., EDT on Friday, June 26, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Due to the current COVID-19 public health emergency, the 
Panel meeting will be held virtually.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Hall, MEDCAC Coordinator, via 
email at [email protected] or by phone 410-786-4347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    MEDCAC, formerly known as the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee 
(MCAC), is advisory in nature, with all final coverage decisions 
resting with CMS. MEDCAC is used to supplement CMS' internal expertise. 
Accordingly, the advice rendered by the MEDCAC is most useful when it 
results from a process of full scientific inquiry and thoughtful 
discussion, in an open forum, with careful framing of recommendations 
and clear identification of the basis of those recommendations. MEDCAC 
members are valued for their background, education, and expertise in a 
wide variety of scientific, clinical, and other related fields. (For 
more information on MEDCAC, see the MEDCAC Charter (https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/Downloads/medcaccharter.pdf) and 
the CMS Guidance Document, Factors CMS Considers in Referring Topics to 
the MEDCAC (https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/medicare-coverage-document-details.aspx?MCDId=10).

II. Meeting Topic and Format

    This notice announces the Wednesday, July 22, 2020, virtual public 
meeting of the Committee. This meeting will focus on the home use of 
noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with CRF 
consequent to COPD. Devices to be considered are home mechanical 
ventilators (HMVs), bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) devices 
and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. We are seeking 
the MEDCAC's recommendations regarding the characteristics that define 
those patient selection and usage criteria, concomitant services, and 
equipment parameters necessary to best achieve positive patient health 
outcomes in beneficiaries with CRF consequent to COPD. The MEDCAC will 
specifically focus on the scientific evidence associated with the 
outcomes most pertinent to the affected patient population. Outcomes of 
interest will include decreased mortality, decreased frequency of 
exacerbations requiring ER or hospital admission, increased time to 
hospital re-admission for respiratory related disease, and improved 
function and quality of life.
    Background information about this topic, including panel materials, 
is available at https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. Electronic copies of all 
the meeting materials will be on the CMS website no later than 2 
business days before the meeting. We encourage the participation of 
organizations with expertise in the appraisal of the state of evidence 
for the use of HMV, BPAP, and CPAP equipment in the home for the 
affected patient population. This meeting is open to the public. The 
Committee will hear oral presentations from the public for 
approximately 60 minutes. Time allotted for each presentation may be 
limited. If the number of registrants requesting to speak is greater 
than what can be reasonably accommodated during the scheduled open 
public hearing session, we may conduct a lottery to determine the 
speakers for the scheduled open public hearing session. The contact 
person will notify interested persons regarding their request to speak 
by June 29, 2020. Your comments must focus on issues specific to the 
list of topics that we have proposed to the Committee. The list of 
research topics to be discussed at the meeting will be available on the 
following website prior to the meeting: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. 
We require that you declare at the meeting whether you have any 
financial involvement with manufacturers (or their competitors) of any 
items or services being discussed. Speakers presenting at the MEDCAC 
meeting must include a full disclosure slide as their second slide in 
their presentation for financial interests (for example, type of 
financial association--consultant, research support, advisory board, 
and an indication of level, such as minor association < $10,000 or 
major association > $10,000) as well as intellectual conflicts of 
interest (for example, involvement in a federal or nonfederal advisory 
committee that has discussed the issue) that may pertain in any way to 
the subject of this meeting. If you are representing an organization, 
we require that you also disclose conflict of interest information for 
that organization. If you do not have a PowerPoint presentation, you 
will need to present the full disclosure information requested 
previously at the beginning of your statement to the Committee.
    The Committee will deliberate openly on the topics under 
consideration. Interested persons may observe the deliberations, but 
the Committee will

[[Page 35935]]

not hear further comments during this time except at the request of the 
chairperson. The Committee will also allow a 15-minute unscheduled open 
public session for any attendee to address issues specific to the 
topics under consideration. At the conclusion of the day, the members 
will vote and the Committee will make its recommendation(s) to CMS.

III. Registration Instructions

    CMS' Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting 
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must 
register to attend. You may register online at https://www.cms.gov/apps/events/upcomingevents.asp?strOrderBy=1&type=3 or by phone by contacting 
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this notice by the deadline listed in the DATES section of this notice. 
Please provide your full name (as it appears on your state-issued 
driver's license), address, organization, telephone number(s), and 
email address. You will receive a registration confirmation with 
instructions for your participation at the virtual public meeting.

IV. Collection of Information

    This document does not impose information collection requirements, 
that is, reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure 
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office 
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    The Acting Director for the Center for Clinical Standards and 
Quality, at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Jean Moody-
Williams, having reviewed and approved this document, authorizes Evell 
J. Barco Holland, who is the Federal Register Liaison, to 
electronically sign this document for purposes of publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).

    Dated: June 8, 2020.
Evell J. Barco Holland,
Federal Register Liaison, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-12720 Filed 6-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P